Greetings, friends!
I’m part way through reading my 12th book of the year. I haven’t kept track, but if I had to guess, that figure likely exceeds my total from the last 4 years combined. When I launched Sit & Read back in February, I’d hoped that it would serve a similar purpose to Sit & Write: pairing a personal goal with peer accountability to overcome a frustrating tendency. It’s worked well, but it never feels like enough.
For years I’ve watched people set intentions and glide effortlessly toward them, as though the only thing between them and perfection was sufficient desire. But I already want so much: to be well-read, to have a consistent writing practice, to meditate frequently, to restore the physical strength of my 20s, to publish my novel, to make regular phone calls to long-distance friends, to walk my dogs every day, to find a sustainable career, and so on. I struggle, I flounder, I get sour grapes. I start again.
I used to be a joyful reader. My fourth grade teacher track…